(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4392472215_2e758d5b9f_o.jpg)
Lower Left: OK, what you see there disappears with a little scotchbrite.
Lower Right: Looking borderline, visible 'depth' of wear at top and bottom of the contact patch.
Upper Left: Chrome completely gone in 2/3 of the contact patch.
Upper Right: Chrome completely gone from the entire contact patch.
So...
it needs 3.
Those are pretty old I think.
The earlier bad ones had that bronze color.
AFAIK, they're the originals on an '02 S4.
But the bike is on owner #3, so not a 'for sure'.
All from the horizontal, verticals were fine.
Quote from: Speeddog on February 27, 2010, 11:55:26 AM
AFAIK, they're the originals on an '02 S4.
But the bike is on owner #3, so not a 'for sure'.
All from the horizontal, verticals were fine.
Are yours the same color?
has anyone used the DLC coated replacement rockers for few thousand miles yet...
not me.
I would though.
Wow thats harsh.
Any way to replate them, or are new ones the only option? As I recall, that kind of hard chrome is not the same process as say '57 Chevy bumpers, but I don't know what the difference is.
A company called Megacycle (you may know them since they do a lot of old British stuff) used to re manufacture Ducati rockers, they may still do this, but Ducati rockers are no longer in the catalog. If I remember correctly, they used to nitride them instead of chroming. Megacycle does re chrome other brand rockers. They grind them down, weld on new material , machine to specs, then chrome. Allegedly the problem with Ducati rockers was a defect in manufacturing , hydrogen embrittlement. Improper cooling of the rocker would make the chrome brittle, causing the flaking problem.
http://www.megacyclecams.com/ (http://www.megacyclecams.com/)
NICHOLS IN SF have megacycle rockers
Quote from: howie on February 28, 2010, 12:39:46 AM
A company called Megacycle (you may know them since they do a lot of old British stuff) used to re manufacture Ducati rockers, they may still do this, but Ducati rockers are no longer in the catalog. If I remember correctly, they used to nitride them instead of chroming. Megacycle does re chrome other brand rockers. They grind them down, weld on new material , machine to specs, then chrome. Allegedly the problem with Ducati rockers was a defect in manufacturing , hydrogen embrittlement. Improper cooling of the rocker would make the chrome brittle, causing the flaking problem.
http://www.megacyclecams.com/ (http://www.megacyclecams.com/)
The 4V rockers are in there you just need to dig.
The price in the 08 catalog is $89. They do not re-chrome the rockers. They grind and hard face the valve end.
Quote from: ducpainter on February 27, 2010, 11:56:57 AM
Are yours the same color?
Not sure, as I don't have 'em out right now, but I think so.
I've had rockers re-done by Megacycle; it's a grind chrome off, hard weld, and regrind process.
New OEM ones are supposed to be better.
I've not heard much about the DLC coated rockers.
Hopefully it's a little bit cheaper than the fork leg DLC coating I checked on a while back.
Bruce had some done and Eric has installed some of them.
The cost was somewhat reasonable, but depended on the number being done...more #s lower per piece cost.
I replaced four rockers in my 748 in 2006 with OEM rockers (when they were $45 each) with only 5600 miles on the bike. At 12k, they were still all fine. At 18k, some more were bad, including one of the 2006 replacement rockers, and I replaced all the openers with Megacycled rockers that I got through Nichol's. 1300 miles later, I wrecked the bike and am still in the process of repairing it (I have to get some more use out of those rockers, right? ;) )
For color contrast of OEM rockers, here is a picture I took back in 2006 showing a 1998, 2002, and 2006 OEM rockers...
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d32/Kramer_Krazy/rockers_1.jpg)
(The 1998 rockers is actually a light gold color)
Quote from: ducpainter on February 28, 2010, 11:00:11 AM
Bruce had some done and Eric has installed some of them.
The cost was somewhat reasonable, but depended on the number being done...more #s lower per piece cost.
The DLC ones are definately cool looking - I'd try them just because of that but thankfully I haven't had a need
Hi all,
I've wondered about flaking rockers for many years, though don't think it affects my machines. What's the problem with just letting them flake? I can see having to use new shims eventually, but wouldn't the oil filter catch the flakes?
As I understand it the flakes are the harder material that is plated to the rocker. Once that wears away, your cams would start to tear thought the softer rocker material. That would be very bad and could lead to all kinds of nasty stuff like your closers not working and all that leads to.
People Who Know Much More About Ducati's Than Me(tm), is that incorrect?
EDIT: See below. I learn-ed somephin!
Quote from: MongoReturns on March 09, 2010, 11:11:08 AM
Hi all,
I've wondered about flaking rockers for many years, though don't think it affects my machines. What's the problem with just letting them flake? I can see having to use new shims eventually, but wouldn't the oil filter catch the flakes?
Problem is when the plating wears off the rockers, the rockers wear out the cams.
Ah. Thanks!
In 2007 i fitted 8 Nichol Megacycled openers to my S4 ,5 of the OEM ones were rubbish...flaked to death after only 5000 miles , all the closers were perfect .
Now 12,000 miles later they are all still fine . checking my valves this week at 18,000 miles .
Quote from: ducpainter on March 09, 2010, 05:09:32 PM
Problem is when the plating wears off the rockers, the rockers wear out the cams.
And like a bike the local dealer had on the table......
The chrome flakes got to a cam bearing, the bearing seized, a belt broke, the piston smacked the two intake valves, the valves bent, the two valve guides cracked, and the piston got a couple of dings knocked into it.
Not too sure if it is true or not, but I have heard of the piston making contact with the valves just right to bend a connecting rod and damage crank bearings.
For the want of a nail, a kingdom was lost....